What the job costs in Highbury
Vent swap
Like-for-like certified vent and actuator, connected to the existing controls and commissioned by a smoke-control specialist
Vent with new controls
Vent plus new control panel and detection, commissioned by a smoke-control specialist
Multiple vents
Several stairwells or larger systems, priced from a survey
Guide ranges for supply & fit; controls and commissioning by a smoke-control specialist. Your price is fixed in a written quote after we have seen photos or surveyed. Scaffold, access towers or a crane are priced separately if the job needs them, and building control fees, where a job needs them, are shown as their own line.
Fitting across Highbury and nearby
Highbury and the districts around it, N5, N7 and N1, all sit inside our working area. So does the ground between Highbury and Islington (1 mile), and on towards Holloway (1 mile). When a fitting team is booked, their travel is already in the quoted price, so it does not turn up as a surprise line on the final bill.
On the day, we cover
- Upstand checked, adapted or rebuilt to the vent maker's drawing
- Certified vent and actuator matched to the opening and controls
- Controls, detection and wiring handled by the smoke-control specialist
- Controls and backup power — We confirm the controls, detection and backup power are being dealt with by a specialist.
- Upstand and weathering — We check the upstand suits the new vent and that the roof around it is sound.
A typical installation day
Arrive and agree the plan. Sheet the floor and furniture. Set up the ladder, tower or scaffold. Check the opening, the upstand or flashing, and the unit against the paperwork. Fix and pack a smoke vent rooflight level. Seal it into the roof. Line the reveal or fit the ceiling trim. Clean the glass, clear the waste, and talk you through it. That is the shape of most fitting days, and for this type of job it usually takes one to two days per vent.
Regulations for Highbury properties
In England, smoke vents for common stairs must be certified to BS EN 12101-2, provide the free area the fire strategy requires (Approved Document B calls for at least 1 m² at the top of a common stair), and have backup power. Smoke vents have their own energy limit, commonly 3.5 W/m²K. Controls and commissioning are handled by a smoke-control specialist, and building control is involved where the system changes.
Details that speed up your quote
What we cannot see, we have to guess, and guesses make quotes wider. So the more you send, the tighter the price. Useful: shots from the roof or garden, shots from the room underneath, a rough width and length, the roof finish, any access problems, and the product page if you have already ordered. Add the property postcode around N5 and we will come back with a quote or a survey date.
Common questions in Highbury
Who is responsible for the smoke-control system?
The building's responsible person, duty holder or managing agent, depending on the nation, is responsible for keeping fire safety systems working. Our part is the rooflight and roof work; the controls, detection and commissioning are handled by a smoke-control specialist, and the quote says who does what.
Can you remove and dispose of the old rooflight?
Yes. Taking out the old unit is part of any replacement job, and it leaves with the rest of the waste unless you ask to keep it. Old domes, glass and frames go through proper waste routes. If removal turns up a rotten kerb or damaged decking, we show you what we have found and agree the repair with you before going any further.
Does commercial rooflight work need building control?
Usually. New openings, structural changes and smoke vents go through building control, and on buildings covered by fire safety law that means a full plans application rather than a building notice. We are not registered with a competent person scheme, so replacements we fit are notified to building control. We confirm the route and show any fee on the quote.
Questions before you commit? Send them over with your Highbury postcode and we will answer them plainly, with a quote alongside.

